I wasn't accepted into the nursing program. I left my community college to pursue another nursing program hoping that it would get me closer to being a nurse. It was a bad decision and set me back some. Right now, I am not even sure if I want to be a nurse anymore. I am getting older, and I just don't see myself still living at home in the next few years. And when I do move out to support myself it will be incredibly challenging to pursue nursing school at the same time. The long waiting lists, being told to possibly wait to get accepted in 2010, 2011 is just not promising to me. I'll be too old. And the older I get the less motivated I am. I don't want to be like some women who are in their late 30s, 40s chasing after nursing school their whole life. I have ran across a lot of them
I made a thread about going into health administration, maybe that will be a bit more realisitc for me. I won't be tied down every single day for 8 hours, and I can go to class, work, and be able to finnacially support myself until I get a degree. I don't know, I am just confusd. I dont know what direction I need to go in with my life
I went to nursing school when I was over age 50 after being on a waiting list for three years! I was older than most of my teachers! I agree with everyone here, for the most part. You will spend your life dealing with rejection and all you can do is not let it get the best of you. Evaluate whether you have the patience to be a nurse. Research the fields you may be interested in before you, as you say it, "waste" anymore of your time. No offense, but I really think you need to adjust your attititude before you decide which path you take in life. I wish you the best of luck.
I am sorry to hear you were not accepted, but, if being a nurse is your passion stay with it. I am 38 years old, I graduated nursing school @ age 37. I also have 2 children. I did not go to school as young as I would have liked, but as others have replied, life doesn't always go the way we would like, and you only live one time. So don't live to regret what you did not do.
I am 48, with 3 grandchildren. I am starting my last semester in three weeks. I worked seven years on my prerequisites, one class a semester, while working full time until I could apply to my nursing program. If you want to be a nurse, become a nurse. Every one of us knows how hard it can be, and yet we continue. That is what this website is about. We can relate, and wish you success in your endeavors. Unless you are floating above a crowd of people who have gathered to remember you, it is not too late, and you are not too old.
Um...there are alot of us who are older, much older, who are pursuing their dream of going to nursing school. I think we have alot to offer! You are never too old to do what you want to do!
I went into college straight out of HS and got set back 4 years due to difficulty with courses, not being focused, etc. Anyhow, I applied to nursing school 7 times (7 diff schools). I was rejected 7 times (my grades were not good enough)
I ended up majoring in community health, applied to 2 more schools and at 23yrs old I finally got a conditional acceptance letter. I then had to take organic chem 2 times (withdrew once) and the lab component 2 times in order to meet the condition and enroll ( set me back 1 year). Finally, in the fall of 2008 I started an Accelerated BSN program and finished my 1st semester on the deans list.
Believe me I know what it feels like to struggle. Nobody said it would be easy! I always knew nursing was my calling but god tested me time and time again.
It's all about how bad do you want it? Are you willing to struggle? Are you willing to have faith?
PLUS 23 is NOT old okay! By the time I'm done fulfilling my dream of being an NP I will be 29. YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD! So suck it up and do what you have to do!
If that means applying 9,10,11,12, times JUST DO IT! Failure is not an option!
Why would you have to chase it? Just apply till you get accepted and go for it, finish it, don't let anything get in your way if that is what you want, and you do sound as if it is. There is no shame in going into another field, but if this is truly what you want, you will find a way.
I was taking pre reqs at a community college for a RN, and my mother pretty much pressured me into attending this new LPN school in my city that opened last year. She thought it would be quicker because I wouldn't have to take all those pre reqs. If you check the Michigan forum, you can read about it there.
I did not finish all of my pre reqs at the community college, I stopped midstream, because the other program apparently did not have much if any pre reqs. It was a latteral program, and I was supposed to go through CNA/PCA/ and then sit for the LPN. The rules changed and they allowed students to take the TEAS test early, we were given very little time to study for it. I crammed for a week, and I missed the score by 10 points. I was not allowed to retest and my counselor told me to submit my application for LPN anyway. She said if I retook the test, most likely my score would not change very much.
Well, I submitted my application, prayed, prayed, prayed and was rejected. I did not really know how the program worked, I thought they were going to help me and give me guidance so that I could do well enough to get into the program. Everything was so rushed. They told me they had tutors and the classes there would prepare you for LPN, it was all a lie. My counselor told me that I can only apply for the program ONE time.
I'm upset that I wasted a whole semester of my life, that I could have used towards my RN. I could have taken 4 classes and been a step closer. Now, I am set back, getting older and discouraged. I had everyone thinking that I was going to be in nursing school..I feel like a failure and I know I let my family down
My dear, you need to decide what you really want, plan your route, and do it! That is one of the advantages of being young, you get to pick your self up and dust your self off a bunch of times!
I don't think you want to be a nurse bad enough or you would find a way to get in. also if I were you would not look down on the women and men who are pursuing their dream of becoming a nurse at whatever age. I highly doubt that you know their circumstances. Many of them probably had to work to raise kids your age before getting to pursue their dream. I am one of those nurses in her late 40's that you refer to as chasing after nursing school and I will have you know I wasn't just chasing it, I graduated. I just had my pinning ceremony a couple weeks ago.
Specializes in Emergency, Infusion Therapy, Patient Ed..
I am sorry you are having such a time...and I feel your pain. I also had a hard time becoming a I am 56 yrs old and graduated from a BSN program in May '04......age is just a number....lots of people change careers in their 30's, 40's and 50's.
I originally started an ADN program and would have graduated in '99 had it not been for a clash with a part-time clinical instructor...who failed me in my last semester. I had a 3.7 gpa and letters of recommendations from all my past clinical instructors...took it to appeal, but unfortunately I lost.....long story....alot to do with politics. By the way I was also co-organizer of the graduation pinning committee. I was so devastated.
I took a year off from school, and then I transferred to a 4 yr program. If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten my pre-req's at the community college and then transferred to the 4 yr college. The time spent is almost the same.
I might add that this same instructor who failed me at the ADN program was also at the school I graduated from ....fortunately I was never assigned to her:)....and I never brought up that I attended another program to anyone in class either.
Since then, I have never looked back with the slightest regret. I am now a travel ......and could never have imagined how rewarding my life could be. I not only get to do what I :heartbeat .....I also get to travel all over the country.
I would suggest that you take time to decide what you really want to do...as for me I am not into politics, and can't imaging working in administration.
I am a true believer in that if you want something bad enough don't give up.....you can do anything.
:twocents:"If you keep doing what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten"
Take some time to really reflect on the direction you want to take. Getting a different degree might make you feel better in the short-term, but it will be costly if you decide later that you really want to be a nurse after all. Give yourself a little time. Sometimes things fall into place when the time is right.
I started college (prerequisites) the same time my oldest daughter graduated high school, in 2002 and started college (My youngest was 13 and old enough to understand why I was going to college), I took one class a semester. It is now 2009, I am 46 years old and will graduate with my ADN in December this year, my children are proud of their mom and I will be 47 when I graduate, but I am also proud of myself fo hanging in there. I feel it is actually easier having life experience to help me through my classes. There are lots of us "old-timers" in class, we are welcomed with open arms by all the younger students too. And in clinicals, it's great, the patients think you have been a nurse for a while when you are older, they don't even realize (except for the white uniform) that we are students!! There are benefits, hang in there and don't give up on your dream!!!
I have a question for you in regards to being a travel nurse. I am currently in my last year of nursing school, my husband retires in 3 years, and I was thinking about traveling after some time in the hospital. Do you find that nurses treat you badly or give you the "bad" patients? What do you love and what do you dislike the most about the job?
I am 56 yrs old and graduated from a BSN program in May '04......age is just a number....lots of people change careers in their 30's, 40's and 50's.
....fortunately I was never assigned to her:)....and I never brought up that I attended another program to anyone in class either.
I not only get to do what I :heartbeat .....I also get to travel all over the country.
huntryss
8 Posts
I went to nursing school when I was over age 50 after being on a waiting list for three years! I was older than most of my teachers! I agree with everyone here, for the most part. You will spend your life dealing with rejection and all you can do is not let it get the best of you. Evaluate whether you have the patience to be a nurse. Research the fields you may be interested in before you, as you say it, "waste" anymore of your time. No offense, but I really think you need to adjust your attititude before you decide which path you take in life. I wish you the best of luck.